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There are surprisingly few installers in the Boston area. SST isn't far away and is well known and respected for their work on Porsches. I'm very confident they'd do a great job, but they're not available for some time due to their support of multiple race series. I'm also three hours away from them, so not exactly convenient. There's a local shop (30 minutes away) that I've never heard of, but has done the change on at least one other PDK. They're quoting a very reasonable price for the work and seem quite pragmatic and knowledgeable. Would I be crazy to use a non-porsche specialist for this? I spoke with the mechanic that has decades of transmission experience and his point was "it's just removing the case, doing some soldering, and reversing. It's not exactly complicated". He's not wrong...
I spoke with the mechanic that has decades of transmission experience and his point was "it's just removing the case, doing some soldering, and reversing. It's not exactly complicated". He's not wrong...
He isn't and he is... kind of There is actually another significant step in the process - calibration. Because of complete lack of information from the company that designed the software (Porsche/ZF) - in some cases calibration can be extremely frustrating and entirely possible to not be able to finish it. The software will stop, give a non-descriptive error, and no hints what to do about it. Or worse. It happens in a small % of installations, but if you run into problems with calibration - you are back to square 1. But if you are at the one of the very experienced shops - they will *always* finish it successfully .
I'm not really sure what to do with this advice. You're saying there's a potential challenge during software calibration of the unit. You're also saying that a Porsche specific shop is more likely to know how to interpret and resolve the non-descriptive error. As the designer of the product, I would assume you'd want to share that knowledge with any installer to which you/Vlad refer prospective customers. Is that happening and can shops count on support from T-Design during installation of the product? I've run the PIWIS calibration on this car in the past without issue, but that wasn't after the replacement of any parts so this slightly ominous warning is concerning.
Last edited by Ubermensch; Jul 12, 2024 at 12:06 PM.
He isn't and he is... kind of There is actually another significant step in the process - calibration. Because of complete lack of information from the company that designed the software (Porsche/ZF) - in some cases calibration can be extremely frustrating and entirely possible to not be able to finish it. The software will stop, give a non-descriptive error, and no hints what to do about it. Or worse. It happens in a small % of installations, but if you run into problems with calibration - you are back to square 1. But if you are at the one of the very experienced shops - they will *always* finish it successfully .
I see there is no price for the Sensor on your website. Whats the cost for the Sensor and whats the average cost for installation?
I see there is no price for the Sensor on your website. Whats the cost for the Sensor and whats the average cost for installation?
I think it was mentioned earlier in the thread that the sensor is ~$2k. I'm getting quotes of service in the $3-5k range if the transmission is removed to do the work. It sounds like it can be accomplished without removing the transmission on Caymans due to their orientation, but if someone can confirm that it would be great.
>I'm not really sure what to do with this advice.
PDK-repair experienced shop will have better knowledge of how to complete repair. It's not always as simple as open-solder-close.
>You're saying there's a potential challenge during software calibration of the unit.
Yes.
>You're also saying that a Porsche specific shop is more likely to know how to interpret and resolve the non-descriptive error.
Not Porsche-specific shop. Porsche-PDK-repair specific shop. Shop that does a lot of PDK repairs
> As the designer of the product, I would assume you'd want to share that knowledge with any installer to which you/Vlad refer prospective customers.
Of course we share all the knowledge we have with our partners. I'm talking about internal knowledge of calibration software, which only Porsche/ZF has. In normal world, if program stops and give the error, you'd expect to be able to get some explanations on the error and guide on what causing it and how to proceed. PIWIS will give you nothing other than some puzzling "software teaching error". Period. It's is also possible to brick TCU during the calibration. If shop doesn't know how to recover from that... That's why I'm saying it's not always as simple as open-solder-close, and the shop that has more experience will have better chance of dealing with it. Because after going through number of this scenarios, trying this and that 100 times... to see if that helps to get through... professionals will work out and learn some intangible things that are impossible to put in writing, but will help them next time. Like in any professional area really.
Last edited by t-design; Jul 12, 2024 at 12:50 PM.
I think it was mentioned earlier in the thread that the sensor is ~$2k. I'm getting quotes of service in the $3-5k range if the transmission is removed to do the work. It sounds like it can be accomplished without removing the transmission on Caymans due to their orientation, but if someone can confirm that it would be great.
Very easy to do with the transmission installed on Cayman/Boxster. Easy to do on the 911s.
I’ve got a 987.2 PDK getting a new distance sensor. I had the Porsche dealer order replacement caps for the rear case, which are superceded from the original part number. Ordered 9G1.321.360.00 and got 9P1-301-125. This is what the new caps look like. Any concerns?
EDIT: Seems like part 9P130615 is the part needed for the 987.2 cover seal. It looks like the part I removed:
Removed Caps
@cbracerx
It looks like you updated your post with a different part number that doesn't show up in any catalog: 9P130615. So did the parts your received (9P1-301-125) work, or is there some other mystery cap for the 987.2?
@cbracerx
It looks like you updated your post with a different part number that doesn't show up in any catalog: 9P130615. So did the parts your received (9P1-301-125) work, or is there some other mystery cap for the 987.2?
The caps I pictured did not work for the 987.2 PDK and I don't know yet what version of PDK they will work on! I ended up reusing the caps without issue - I had removed them pulling with a single hook near the center of the cap so they were easy to seal with oil resistant Permatex and reinstall.
Thanks, I appreciate you following up for my sake and the community good. I wonder what the deal with the caps is? Where did that part number you posted (9P130615) come from? It seems to be missing a digit.
Thanks @Damien Law for starting this thread! And greatly appreciate all the info added by other members…
I got the ‘Transmission Emergency Run’ error a couple months back on a road trip in my ‘12 Cayman R (987.2), and it reset after a restart, but got these PDK errors when I was able to get home and plug in my Durometric tool:
Siemens Digital Motor Electronics SDI3
P0007 Implausible signal
Transmission – PDK
C146: U0146 - CAN timeout Gateway
C418: U0418 - CAN fault, brake
0703: Brake light switch Information implausible
17D2: Gear selection hydraulics fault: Odd target gear during overlap
17D1: Gear selection hydraulics fault. No or wrong shift rod moved.
1990: Positive engine torque intervention not possible
1769: 6th gear cannot be engaged or gear skip
176F: 5th gear cannot be engaged or gear skip
1731: Shift rod 1 displacement sensors
17D3: Gear selection hydraulics fault: Even target gear during overlap
———
Haven’t had time to work on the car until recently, and going to start with a fluid change (both sides), a new aluminum pan with more fluid capacity, and a larger cooler.
Will see how it does after that, but that 1731 code has me thinking I’m going to be needing a new distance sensor at some point. Will likely attempt the repair myself, but I don’t have a PIWIS so not sure how to go about the calibration process without purchasing or renting one, or trailering it to a dealer to have it calibrated after I complete the repair in my home garage.
Any recommendations for an alternative diagnostic/calibration tool vs. PIWIS?
Alternately, anyone know of any shops near San Antonio or Austin, TX that can do the repair and calibration?
Thanks in advance for any info or advice…
edit: just saw Vlad from t-designs responded to my post back in July…don’t know how I missed it originally! Sending him an email inquiry for shops…. Would still appreciate any ideas re: a diagnostic tool suitable for recalibration if I wind up doing the repair here at home.
About me: Hello all, my name is Damien Law, you address me as Damien. As someone who fixes transmission(DSG MOSTLY) for a living, I always like to try new solutions.
THIS DIY: This post will be about replacing displacement sensor on Porsche 987 mated to a PDK gearbox, using new sensor made by T-Design (http://t-design9.com/porsche_PDK_dis...on_sensor.html).
The procedure is mostly the same for all variations of PDK on 997, 991, 987 and and 981 models. The sensor is not available from Porsche at all, but the new unit is manufactured by T-Design. This repair saves car owner from replacing the whole gearbox.
My PDK experience: I have driven many cars with different variant of double clutch designs including BMW's famous DKG, Audi & VW's famous DSG, Ferrari's DCT, McLarens' SSG, Ford's DPS trash & etc. Porsche's PDK is by far, no doubt that from all the dsg produced out there, nothing beats the experience of Porsche's PDK in the 997,991, 987, 981 & more (Macan & Panamera does not count). The response is just amazing, downshifts are just instant, it is almost that the PDK system has 100% synchronization with your brain at 0% latency. You must be thinking that I am overexaggerating, but I can assure your I'm not.
PDK Flaw Just like many other double clutch transmissions out there, Porsche's PDK has 1 major flaw and that is the distance sensor located inside the rear section of gearbox. You can find many useful info about this specific PDK in the following thread: Guide to Repairing a PDK Transmission In this thread, I will be showing you how I fix PDKs with this specific issue.
Fault Code Present: You might get faults like the following but not limited to: P1731: Shift rod 1 displacement sensor P1732: Shift rod 2 displacement sensor P1733: Shift rod 3 displacement sensor P1734: Shift rod 4 displacement sensor P17XX: 5V ... displacement sensor (don't quite remember this one) If you get any of these faults, it is very likely that your displacement sensor has failed or is failing. If you can't be certain, always refer to the data values, they are helpful.
Before replacing displacement sensor your must: First: Drain all oil & store them in a safe place where it wont be contaminated with debris or water.
Second: Pull the gearbox out of the car, have it come down & the job can be done easily.
Third: Once the gearbox is out & placed somewhere that is workable with. First, you will notice that the gearbox is only 2 piece of housing mated to each other. In this process you will only need to work on the rear section(opposite of input shaft) of the gearbox to replace the displacement sensor.
Fourth: Only in the rear section, undo all T45 sized bolts & I mean ALL. undo bolts circled in red, there's more below, you get the idea...
don't forget this bolt too
Fifth: In this step, you will need to remove the 2 sealing caps. I was able to pry it out slowly with great amount of patience without completely destroying it just so it can be reused. remove the 2 black sealing caps. Do it however you feel that is the safest way if you want to reuse these. Mine does not look too good because I pry-ed it out at least 5 times.
Sixth: Once the caps are out, you will need to undo the bolt from the top cap side and unclip the snap ring from the bottom cap side. Unfortunately, I did not snap pictures for this step, but it will be a pretty obvious procedure once the caps are out of the way.
Seventh: In this step, a special tool will be required. I'm not too sure if this tool is buy-able but we managed to make one ourselves(pictures below). We start of by tightening the tool to the housing, then places 2 thick and correctly sized washers between the 2 shaft and the special tool's screw. Slowly tighten the 2 screws on the special tool and the housing will come right off. If the screws are very tight and the housing wont budge, it is likely that you have missed a bolt that was suppose to come off. I can't really describe how this process should feel so good luck we made this ourselves, not too elegant but it works
you see the two screws between the tool and the housing? the washers goes in between
this picture illustrates pushing out press-fit shafts out of the rear housing using my home made tool
Eighth: Once the rear section it out, you should be able to see the displacement sensor. And if you don't, you are probably not working on a PDK. that's the displacement sensor
Ninth: Removing the displacement sensor is pretty easy. Just undo 3 bolts from the displacement sensor, undo 2 bolts for the speed sensor and lastly, remove the clip at the female connector of the sensor and push it out of the housing. As easy as ABC. undo bolts circled in red
unbolt them
The Last Step:
Out with the old, in with the new displacement sensor (only at T-Design). Once that is done, just reverse the process and perform calibration(with part replacement/overall procedure) with PIWIS II or III.
I was lucky enough to source once from T-Design and it works like a charm
This is their complete guide on how to prepare the sensor for installation >> Instruction for Displacement Sensor by T-Design
If you have any questions, just ask and I will reply as much as I can.
Some picture of the sensor that I sourced from T-Design
the aluminum part came and I soldered it to the harness
Hi ! New sensor already in place. See photo. New distance sensor in place 👍
👍
There is actually another significant step in the process - calibration. Because of complete lack of information from the company that designed the software (Porsche/ZF) - in some cases calibration can be extremely frustrating and entirely possible to not be able to finish it. The software will stop, give a non-descriptive error, and no hints what to do about it. Or worse. It happens in a small % of installations, but if you run into problems with calibration - you are back to square 1. But if you are at the one of the very experienced shops - they will *always* finish it successfully .
